Watch Polyester

Polyester is a 1981 American comedy film directed and written by John Waters, known for his unique, irreverent style of filmmaking. The movie is a parody of the melodramatic films of the 1950s, revelling in their over-the-top plotlines and exaggerated emotions. The film stars Divine, Waters' frequent collaborator, as Francine Fishpaw, a middle-aged suburban housewife who is struggling to keep her life together as everything around her falls apart.

Polyester is set in a world of kitsch and camp, where everything is garish and exaggerated. Francine lives in a house that looks like it was decorated by a child with a fondness for pink and floral prints. Her husband, Elmer (David Samson), is a sleazy businessman who runs an adult theater, complete with a giant inflatable penis on the roof. Her children are all oddballs: her son, Dexter (Ken King), is a foot fetishist who likes to sniff his mother's shoes; her daughter, Lu-Lu (Mary Garlington), is a promiscuous delinquent who has a penchant for setting things on fire.

As if all this wasn't enough, Francine is also dealing with a number of personal crises. She is deeply unhappy in her marriage to Elmer, who is cheating on her with his secretary. She is also struggling to cope with her financial situation, and the fact that her beloved dog has been hit by a car. To make matters worse, Francine is addicted to sniffing glue, which she uses to get through her days.

Despite all of this, Francine tries to keep up appearances, but her life takes a turn for the worse when Elmer leaves her for his secretary. This sets off a series of events that bring Francine to the brink of a nervous breakdown. However, a chance encounter with Todd Tomorrow (Tab Hunter), a handsome and charming local businessman, gives her hope for a better future.

What follows is a hilarious and outrageous satire of American suburban life, as Francine tries to break free of the constraints that have been placed upon her by society. Along the way, she must confront her own demons, including her addiction to glue and her fraught relationship with her family.

One of the standout features of Polyester is its use of "Odorama" – a gimmick that allows viewers to smell specific scents during the film. Audiences were given scratch-and-sniff cards that corresponded to different scents (such as roses, gasoline, and pizza), which were released at various points in the movie. This was a trademark of John Waters, who loved to play with audience expectations and push the boundaries of what was considered acceptable in cinema.

Despite its outrageous subject matter, Polyester is ultimately a story about the search for happiness and self-acceptance. Francine's journey towards self-discovery is both funny and touching, as she learns to embrace her quirks and flaws and stand up for what she believes in. Along the way, she must also deal with the judgment and prejudice of others, who view her as nothing more than a desperate housewife.

Polyester is a hilarious and inventive film that showcases John Waters' unique talent for blending comedy, satire, and social commentary. With its outrageous characters, hilarious plot twists, and irreverent humour, the movie is a testament to the power of cinema to challenge and subvert our expectations. If you're looking for a film that will make you laugh, cringe, and think, then Polyester is the perfect choice.

Polyester is a 2011 action movie with a runtime of 35 minutes.